Minerals

Minerals, just like vitamins, function as components of body enzymes. Our bodies need minerals for proper composition of bones and blood and for maintenance of normal cell function. Minerals are classified into two categories: major, and minor (or trace).

What are minerals?

Minerals, just like vitamins, function as components of body enzymes. Our bodies need minerals for proper composition of bones and blood and for maintenance of normal cell function. Minerals are classified into two categories: major, and minor (or trace).

What are the major minerals?

A mineral is classified as “major” if the body contains more than a teaspoon of it. The major minerals are calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and sulfur.

What are the trace minerals?

All of the trace minerals together add up to less than a teaspoon in the body. The trace minerals include boron, chromium, cobalt, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, silicon, vanadium, and zinc.

Why does the body require minerals?

The body cannot make minerals on its own, so it must be obtained through supplements or dietary sources. Minerals work with vitamins, enzymes, and hormones to keep the body healthy.

Most popular minerals

Calcium is one of most popular mineral supplements. Calcium is an essential mineral needed to form bones and teeth, thus is the most abundant mineral in our body.

Magnesium is also another popular mineral, as it helps with enzyme activation. The highest concentration of magnesium in is found in the most metabolically active parts of the body, like the brain, heart, liver and kidney, which shows magnesium’s vital role in energy production.

Of the trace minerals, Chromium is quite popular as it has been shown to improve glucose tolerance.